The Monster Collection of Moleskine Tips, Tricks and Hacks
Freelancers are more likely than most people to love Moleskine notebooks. We need to keep and manage our own schedules and to-dos. We’re creative, so we need a place to store and expand ideas. We need to take notes at meetings with clients–or at least look like we are. We need to appear productive and busy in coffee-shops–even when we aren’t.
Moleskine notebooks rank alongside the MacBook Pro, money and caffiene on our fictional list of ‘Most Beloved Freelancing Tools’. It’s a shame, then, that many Moleskine owners don’t realize the full potential of their little black book… much like many brain-owners don’t realize the full potential of their squishy salmon-colored companion.
Don’t be one of those people!
Inside this post you’ll find a goldmine of mini-hacks, recommendations, visual modifications, organizational systems, uncommon uses and creative tomfoolery, all for your Moleskine(s)!
It’s never too late to change
If you’ve thus far resisted the allure of the Moleskine, remember this: it’s never too late to sell-out/stop being lazy. Here’s how you can fit a Moleskine into your freelance-life.
Web Designers/Developers and Code-ninjas. I recommend the Large Squared Notebook for your needs: it’s lined vertically and horizontally, which is perfect for sketching layouts and measurements, or lines of code that need to be visually organized.
Graphic Designers and Illustrators. I recommend the Large Plain Notebook or Large Sketchbook for your needs: each page is plain, making it perfect for rough sketches and visual ideas.
Writers. Many writers prefer the Large Ruled Notebook to keep their words neat and in order, but I prefer the freedom of a Large Plain Notebook. It allows me to mind-map and set up each page according to my whims.
Consultants. I’d suggest the Large Squared Notebook for its flexibility. You can use the horizontal lines for writing and the vertical lines for when you need to create a schedule or mark appointments.
Everyone else. If you only want to write in paragraphs, get a Large Ruled Notebook. If you want a combination of order and flexibility (but less simplicity) get a Large Squared Notebook. If you want maximum freedom (and don’t mind a bit of disorder) get a Large Plain Notebook, or a Large Sketchbook if you intend to be drawing more often than writing.
Notebook, pen and iPod = simple pleasures.
Putting pen to paper
The most basic function of a Moleskine notebook is to provide a surface for writing, doodling and drawing. But how, exactly, should you do this? Ask any die-hard Moleskine fan and they’ll tell you that some ways are better than others.
The unofficial Moleskine pen of choice is the Pilot G-2, combining both thrift and accuracy. You’ll see it recommended everywhere. If you’re like me and dislike gel pens, consider turning the class (and the expense) up a notch and using your Moleskine in tandem with a fountain pen. Of course, some fountain pens work better than others when it comes to Moleskine paper. Here’s a list of the best for our needs. Personally, I ignore the advice and use an Artline Fineliner Pen. Go with whatever floats your boat!
The Pilot G2 Gel Pen is highly recommended by Moleskine lovers and retails for just a couple of dollars.
The Omas Paragon: a Moleskine-friendly fountain pen.
Getting organized
A Moleskine notebook can be a creative outlet or an organization tool–or both. Of course, you don’t need a daily or weekly diary to use your Moleskine to stay organized, sane, and on top of your work.
Turn your Moleskine into a customized GTD™ system. If Dave Allen makes you blush this option might be for you. You could design your own system or build on the good work of others. Luckily for you, there are plenty of well-documented GTD conversions out there and all of them have one thing in common: sticky tabs!
Others who have come before you:
Czar’s Pocket-sized Moleskine GTD System. Relatively simple, particularly when compared to the GTD philosophy as a whole. All you need are sticky tabs, a ruler and a pen.
Gaz’s Moleskine Diary System. I have enough trouble keeping the tumbleweed blowing around my Gmail inbox, so I’d hesitate to add another inbox to my Moleskine. However, GTD fans may relish the opportunity!
gtdfrk’s Pocket Moleskine GTD Infobook System. Makes use of fancy cut-outs and labels instead of sticky notes.
A typical Moleskine GTD system. Sticky-notes are the secret ingredient.
Jeremy’s Multi-tab GTD System. Like every other GTD system, except with more tabs. Useful if you find the five-tab GTD standard too limiting.
GTD Moleskine System for Students. C. Daniel Wess shares his Moleskine system, custom-designed for the needs of the student. If you’re freelancing between classes, this system might be for you.
Hyalineskies’ GTD Moleskine. Very well documented construction process with photos. One of the more popular GTD Moleskine mods.
Shahine’s GTD Moleskine System. Designed to easily integrate with GTD technology.
Turn your Moleskine into a PDA. I tried using a real PDA for a while but I found it to be kind of like a really expensive notebook that took ages to write in. Others seem to agree:
Kathy Sierra’s Notebook PDA. Though no longer blogging, Kathy was a very busy person at the time she outlined this system (and I hope she still is!).
PigPog PDA. Perhaps the most well-known and widely used Moleskine to GTD PDA system.
Create your own system. GTD makes you go cross-eyed? I can relate. Match your individualized work routine with an individualized scheduling system. The following examples may provide the inspiration you need:
Bill Westerman’s Square Moleskine Schedule. Mmm… neat and efficient looking. Go have a look: the Flickr notes are not to be missed.
Mike Rohde’s Custom Moleskine Planner. Mike’s adaptation of the Bill Westerman system above. Bill has neater writing, though!
AK’s Diary/Calendar Hack. Uses a square-ruled Moleskine to add a monthly calendar and schedule system.
Keep track of billable hours. Gaz has shared a simple hack on how to use a Moleskine daily planner to keep track of billable hours done in any given day. The same hack would work with any daily planner.
Manage multiple Moleskines with spine icons. If your notebooks all look the same on the outside but serve different purposes inside, add a marking to the spine to quickly communicate which is which. A silver permanent marker works well for this.
Take proper notes. How do you turn your client’s words into notes that you can extract meaning from later? It’s a task many freelancers struggle with, but the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers has some tips for you.
Make your notes easy to find. Leslie S. Russel has produced a succint write-up of how he indexes and links together notes in his Moleskine. See the below images and quote:
Mentally divide your Moleskine page-spread into quarters for easy referencing.
This system references page numbers and quadrants to connect your notes.
As has been suggested on other sites (i.e. 43Folders.com and MikeShea.net) you can use a sort of meta data system for linking bits of information in your Moleskine. The Moleskine markup language is easy to learn; it consists of two directional indicators (← means continued from, while → means continued on), the page number, and the quadrant. In the example above the note is continued on page twenty-four, quadrant C, and it was continued from page eighteen, quadrant B.
If you looked through your Moleskine as you read this you will notice that by numbering the pages in pairs you will be left with two pages—first page in the book, and last page—which have no corresponding facing page. Here comes another mini-hack: don’t waste these pages, use them as a table of contents, a sort of home page if you will, to link together the major chunks of information using the same Moleskine mark-up that is used to link the pages. [Source]
Add-ons and mini-hacks
Solving the pen problem. A Moleskine without a writing implement is a shadow of its full potential. You can ensure Moleskine and pen/pencil are never separated again with these simple hacks: use a ribbon, duct tape, more duct tape, binder clips or nothing but the pen itself.
Make your Moleskine returnable. Imagine losing your Moleskine. Not nice, right? Though you might have contact details in the front, unfortunately, much of the world’s population will not act for the benefit of a stranger unless there’s something in it for them, or if it’s really important. Add your mailing address and the promise of a reward to the front page of your Moleskine.
Replace your wallet. Take out the contents and transfer them into a pocket Moleskine. Here’s how.
For writers only. You can print out this Moleskine-sized .PDF sheet of writing tips and attach it to your notebook. Take the wisdom of Strunk and White with you wherever you go.
For typographers and typography lovers. Add this writing template to your Moleskine and create page layouts that will please your medieval ancestors and typography-loving friends.
For artists. Here’s how your colleagues are making their Moleskines beautiful. Get inspired!
A Moleskine makes an excellent sketchbook… artistic skills not included. (Drawing by Braga)
For artists who want more. If you like everything about Moleskine notebooks but would prefer to use your favorite sketching paper instead, here’s a how-to guide on combining both.
For sketchers. Russel Stutler is a Moleskine-sketching expert. Read his recommendations on how to create great sketches in your Moleskine.
For geeks. Here’s how to make a Moleskine enclosure for a thin external hard drive.
For people who need to storyboard. Despite my suspicions that people with the need to story-board are an elite, ultra-hip and small bunch, a Moleskine can still meet your needs. Here’s how to turn a Large Moleskine Sketchbook into a storyboard notebook.
Analog and digital: a match made in heaven
While some use their Moleskine as a rejection of the digital productivity and organization movement, others are excited by the opportunity to merge their Moleskines with the digital world.
iPod + Moleskine combos. This hack combines an iPod and two pocket Moleskines into one super-beast.
iPhone + Moleskine combos. I don’t see the practical use in this, but hey… it’s an iPhone in a Moleskine!
A laser engraved Moleskine.
Pure eyecandy
Moleskine notebooks are already attractive, but less is not always more. Your Moleskine could look even better.
Buy one that’s laser engraved. Modofly has some really arty and affordable options with covers featuring trains, machinery, trees, L.O.V.E. and… Clint Eastwood!
Get it laser engraved with your own design. Want to put your own artwork or picture on the front of your Moleskine? It can be done, for a price.
Make a DIY Moleskine cover. Looks really neat, but some skill with fabric is needed (of which I have none).
You may end up going through quite a few.
5 Creative Uses for Your Moleskine
While a Moleskine’s merits as a diary, planner and schedule are obvious, here are some other ways a Moleskine might be beneficial for your freelance career.
- Business planning. Where do you want your freelance business to be a year from now? What are your most important business aims? A Moleskine could be a good place to record your plans, ideas and aspirations.
- Mind-mapping. Nothing beats pen and paper for expanding ideas and linking them together.
- Recording ideas. Creative-types like us thrive on ideas, whether it’s for a particular code function or a striking logo design. Ideas are a precious resource, so it’s important to record every idea you have before it’s forgotten.
- Life planning. Thinking about the future and reflecting on the past is an important part of living life consciously. A Moleskine can be an ideal place to write about where you want to go and who you want to be.
- Travel diary. Freelancing on the road is often a memorable experience, and a travel journal can help you make sense of working and living abroad.
Freelancers: how do you use your Moleskine?
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Cool post. Full of tips and ideas. It should help a lot of people. However…Moleskins are just a fashion statement within freelancing that is so 1990. A PDA saves time in the long run and can be transfered directly to your computer and placed in sync with your ‘real’ work in seconds. It also backs up everything and over the years all your files can be found in moments, whereas those who choose paper over productivity will end up with storage issues and complex problems when it comes to archiving.
I used paper notebooks throughout my college and uni life and for years after doing that thing called ‘work’ when I noticed I was wasting more time with my notebook than actually doing work. The switch from notebook to PDA saved a lot of time and actually freed up tons of time. PDA voice recorder and stylus notation beats the notebook 9/10 for general use.
Paper = bad
Technology = good
To cut down on ‘procrastination’ doodling, switch to PDA and incorporate a lightweight alternative into your ‘travel kit’. Freelancers waste so much time if you give them a pen and a notebook it’s unreal. But if you remove this distraction, coz that’s all it really is, you can get more done. Limiting notes to voice and stylus works like a charm and it works that you only note the things that are truly important to you. If you insist on ‘drawings’ like I do from time to time, but need to reduce how much time you waste – download the free lightweight version of the moleskine from pocketmod.com and you can have the best of both worlds. It can sit nicely inside your PDA slipcase or in your pocket. The less paper you have the more productive you will be.
It all boils down to a matter of choice though.
Nice post. I´m thinking about upgrading my smallish moleskine notebooks into those standardized types as I will be needing some kind of thought-gatherer with me at all times. Notetaking and layouting for websites and blog articles and such. As I am a mind-map convert I will be filling them up with interesting little mind-maps or my quirky purposed.
Thanks from Iceland.
Oh I should look at getting one. When I am at work (yes I work at a company and do some freelancing) I tend to jot down notes on loose pieces of paper which get lost or spilt on daily. Perhaps a Moleskine will help me! Who wants to send me one? lol
I will send you a Moleskine!
As we designer/developer, I personally prefer the Action Book and Dot Grid Book from Behance. You get the benefit of a grid but it’s much less intrusive. In fact, once you draw on it, it basically disappears.
I have tried a paper based method and a PDA style method and I like both for different reasons. The PDA is handy because yes, you can backup and sync to your pc. I like the paper version because its a pain in the rear end to jot a number down QUICKLY with the PDA. I would like to get my hands on one of them moleskine style books though to give that style a try.
Good post, thanks for the tips!
Zendad
http://www.zendad.net
While I don’t have a Molesikne, I’ve carried an 8.5″ x 11″ notebook around for a long time. I keep notes related to whatever projects I’m working on, or work out math problems for complex animations, screen layout (I’m a Flash Developer) and various equations/algorithms I need to use.
I also use my notebooks as mouse pads. Seems to make things easier for me. I always know where my notes are, and I don’t run the risk of putting the notebook in a weird spot, or having it get lost in a stack of paperwork somewhere.
I find it to be more productive to take notes on paper, and then transfer them to the computer as needed. 70% of what I write down are just notes, not something I need, so I don’t see the point in fiddling with a PDA trying to jot stuff down. It’s faster for me to scribble it down then type it up if I have to.
Thanks for a great post! It was a joy reading it and now I have so many resources (just made tons of bookmarks on diigo!) and inspirations that I can hardly wait to try some of those things on my own moleskin’s.
Being an illustrator and designer these notebooks make it such a pleasure to draw and write down notes. The smoothness of the paper makes my pencil glide and my markers and paints don’t bleed through. I don’t agree that it’s a “1990″ thing at all, moleskine’s are very much an “in” thing right now. You can get them at tons of places and every year their planners sell out. And just look at the vast amounts of sites catering to them. I thought I had found a lot of sites before, but with this list, it’s just doubled.
While I am a huge computer geek and a digital artist, I love writing my notes down on paper. I know some people may prefer a digital output, but for me, there is just something great about looking at things in your own hand. And the fact that I can put my schedule with my sketchbook means I only need to carry one book, its a perfect solution. I don’t leave home without one.
Thanks again for the excellent post. This one was a very nice surprise to find when I stopped in for my daily FSw fix.
Great post! thanks for the tips
I was SERIOUSLY doing a Google search for Moleskine notebooks when I saw this post. I’m a PDA girl but want to start mindmapping. Does anyone recommend a pocket Moleskine notebook for this purpose?
I’m brand-new to Moleskine, which is why I’m browsing ways to use the products. But I have experience mind-mapping, and I know that the bigger the surface, the more you can get out of your brain and onto the paper. Use a pocket Moleskine when you’re on the go, but at home or office try letter-size or larger paper.
Pardon my ignorance, but how do you pronounce “Moleskine”?
Mole-a-skeen-a
@ Cal: It’s all about personal preference. I’ve used a PDA and found it really ineffecient–notebooks suit me much better. I think the only thing that can be said for sure is to experiment: be open-minded and try everything once!
@ Martha: I believe it’s “Mole-skeen”, preferably with an Italian accent.
Great post! When I need to do some writing I usually just use a regular notebook. For important info I keep excel spreadsheets and word documents backed up online to Google Docs, so if my laptop crashes I won’t lose that information.
A regular notebook as gotten the job done for me for the most part, but I’m going to really read your post and see if I might benefit from doing it differently.
Loved the post. I’ve used Moleskine for years mainly as a journal, but also a creative outlet. This just inspired me to become more intentional with my use of my Moleskine. Personally, I love everything digital, so I would think that I would be attracted to a PDA instead of ‘traditional’ paper methods. But to be honest, there is just something about having my hand with a pen on a piece of paper to release the creative flow. Plus, you don’t have to worry about ever running out of batteries for a Moleskine…just ink.
It is pronounced : mol-a-skeen’-a
That’s right off the Moleskine US website. http://www.moleskineus.com/moleskine-about.html
Am I honestly missing something here? Is the product, a notebook, really so much better than a $.99 notebook of the same size that it costs $15?
@ PiercedLogic: In other words, with a suave Italian accent
.
haha yep!
the hardest thing for me is just keeping it in my pocket and remembering to use it.
i find the unlined pages to be better for ideas… the lines kind of ruin my thinking.
I loved this article. I just went out and bought a moleskine yesterday (the graphed) for sketches and ideas.
Hey I love this post!! We are giving away a customized laser engraved moleskine every month on sabet.tv! this is a competition powered by the folks at etchstar.com
Thanks for sharing this one, I love it!
Moleskine, the new analog gadget!
I don’t have a Moleskine notebook, but the Pilot G2 pens are great. I stumbled across a pack at Staples once, and now I can’t stand any other pen.
I agree – the Moleskine is just another fashion fad. Great, useful notebooks have been around for ages and in a broad variety of styles and structures (and still are!). Much like Starbucks coffee, ipods and Mac laptops, Moleskines are part of the uniform of the supposedly unique, creative, independent thinker of today. Although, with so many people using them I suppose an article like this is bound to be popular and useful to some.
I can’t help but feel, though, that in times like these, with the environmental issues the planet is facing, the indiscriminate use of paper should be going out of fashion, as should disposable cups and gadgets that take planned obsolescence to a whole new level.
@Michelle I Use mine specifically for mindmapping
I recently switched to using Moleskines for my journaling. They are awesome. Just make sure you use the Sketchbook for writing if you like heavy-inked pens like I do, otherwise the ink will bleed through the pages. And the pocket in the back is great for keeping random scraps of paper.
Wow, great article. I have my first Moleskine now. I take it everywhere and write every useful idea into Moleskine.
I definitely like this article and so appreciative to find out where to get the moleskin notebook customized. I was searching, but didn’t seem to find it. Thanks for those tips.
I love the G2 pen with my Moleskine. A great pen at an affordable price.
I didn’t make it all the way through this article. Whats so difficult about using a notebook? Seriously? We all went to school (I hope) and as I recall, notes were mandatory.
It’s a matter of personal taste whether you spend $15 or <$1 on a notebook. I personally like to have nice tools — whether it's a pen or notebook or even a screwdriver — to work with. Sure, you can get a knock-off pen that skips now and then, and it'll be fine for you to write in your little wire-bound little cheapo pad, and if it works for you, then that's your choice, and good luck to you. I do like to have things that are quality in the hand, and that will last despite hard use (my cheapo notebooks from school did not wear well in my bookbag). Since I do not have a PDA or a phone that acts like a PDA, or a notebook computer, I do my journaling, list-making, Nota Bene-making in my pocket-size grid Moleskine, wherever I go and whenever I have a few minutes. It's handy. And since the tools I'm working with feel good to me, I'm much more likely to keep up with it.
@Ryan hey I like that Dot Grid book.. may have to pick one up and give it a try
thx for posting
@Robert: Sweet. I ended up getting a Pocket Info Book, as I can relabel each section with a project that’s clouding my head (ie wedding planning, building a business, school, etc) and mind map away! Love it.
“much like many brain-owners don’t realize the full potential of their squishy salmon-colored companion.” This made me laugh out loud in a cafe at the airport.
Good article, thanks.
Five-star notebooks for me. If a local office supply store carries these, then I’ll take a look. But I sure won’t pay shipping and handling for a notebook. A good Five-Star looks very professional when meeting with clients (or on the job, now that I’m employed) as well. These don’t have a very professional look, if that’s of any significance.
Oh, and blue Bic cristal pens (the clear hard plastic ones) are the best :^) I’m a creature of habit.
I just started a project involving Moleskine sketchbooks exchanged with visual artists. Will see how that turns out. The small pocket book is good for travel size, while the larger book offer more space to expand ideas of a project, with room for text and sketches. Recently discovered this brand last few weeks, now I see it on here it is a wide spread inspiration.
Great post, Skellie. As much as I’m a greenie I do use paper for my task lists (of course I’m the only guy on the Lifehack team who does this). I recently learned the downside of this, though—your two and a half year old may just eat the damn thing.
I don’t have a moleskine, just a large, lined spiral notebook, but useful article all the same.
I’ve gone with a Maruman Mnemosyne…similar product, 4×6 sized but spiral bound. Found it at my local Sam Flax store in Metro ATL.
I prefer the spiral to stitched (sits open by itself) and easier for me to write on.
As far as versus PDA’s…I use mine in a variety of ways, sometimes pulling out the page to give to someone, sometimes doing storyboards for photoshoots, lighting diagrams, and so on – so it’s not all text notes. Easier to write on while in traffic as well.
And I’m a Pilot G-2 junkie, without knowing the official status of the pen!
I have a mortal fear of losing my personal planner. The reward idea sounds great, but how much of a reward do you reckon is sufficient?
Speaking of a reward, if someone takes my Moleskine, they are unlikely to find much of value to them. It’s mainly my journalling, notes to myself, a book list of things I may want to read/buy, a list of my medications and my medical history (Important stuff, no? only to me, friend, only to me!) What I offer is a brand-new, un-hacked, unpersonalized Moleskine for their very own selves. I haven’t ever lost my journal, but I think it would be a fair reward to buy one for the Good Samaritan who returned it to me.
I love this article. And I LOVE my moleskin. I just bought it a month ago for putting my musings to paper while traveling through the Mayan Riviera.
I know some prefer technology to good ol’ fashioned paper – I used to be that person. But there’s something about having a tangible page and I believe there’s something powerful about the act of writing something down. I find my to do lists that I write on my computer don’t get done nearly as quickly or completely as the ones I write on a physical piece of paper.
And wow – I never knew about all the different types of moleskins and their uses. Really informational. And I love the laser engraved ones. I’m getting myself a couple of those right this minute!
Thanks Skellie!
Personally, I like taking notes on paper — it feels very “real” to me. Someone, explain these “hacks” to me though. Why not buy a day planner? Why spend hours building these thing when you can buy the same tools pre-made?
Be original; get a $.99 spiral bound, notebook from Walmart.
This is by far my favorite post you’ve guys put together yet!
Skellie, you’ve touched my weakest spot: I’m a sucker when it comes to nice notebooks and pens!
I’ve been writing a succession of “Everything Books” for the past 15 year. I use them for mindmaps, goal setting, post ideas, cooking recipes, doodles, addresses, brilliant ideas, daft plans, affirmations, and…well, just about for everything.
I’m just about to purchase moleskine notebook online now. I just CAN’T RESIST
Juhu, in Switzerland they are that expensive that I even started looking on ebay for cheap Moleskine notebooks. Used them when I was travelling through Africa. The PERFECT travelnotebook. It was the only thing I would have cried for if I had been robbed.
ha – mave is right – moleskines are just a bunch of designers clinging to a brand. Although I do have to say that the are great notebooks. I used to have one but have been using up my other notebooks for jotting down random ideas.
I do think that unless you need paper to sketch or flesh out an idea a PDA would be more environmentally friendly.
Lets not kill trees people! (this is why i make websites)
Great
Ups, crash the link “Large Plain Notebook”.
This is great! I’m getting my first Moleskine this week. I’ll probably have to read through this again to digest it all, and figure out how I’m going to use my new Moleskine. The one thing that stood out to me was using it to replace your wallet. Though I don’t think I’ll use my Moleskine in place of my wallet, I’m thinking about just getting a money clip so my back pocket won’t be bulging.
Ahhh consumerism at it’s best. One person says to jump and everyone buys in. Personally I think moleskine are over priced garbage. When I first went out to look at them I wanted a small notebook that would fit my sketches and concept website/logo ideas without carrying a huge artist notebook. It seemed prefect, until I went to hobbie lobby and found something almost the same for half the price and the same quality of paper and hard cover.
@Nikki @Mave Lets start our own Notebook and call it Treeskine we could use recycled paper.
FYI. I am not big environmentalist but I think too much is wasted all over the world and no one seems to be looking for better ideas.
I think saying “Why not get a .99c notebook?” is kind of like saying “Why not buy a $4 bottle of wine?” A Moleskine is a nicer, better quality, more enjoyable object. I’m happy to pay a little extra for the thing that’s going to be holding some of my best ideas, bravest aspirations and craziest dreams!
Hi!
Not sure whether you’ve ever had a post from Prince Albert the wannabe Crazy Wisdom capital of the world at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains in the Karoo region of South Africa.
Even here, life without a Moleskin Diary, Journal or Notebook would be a little like surfing in the swimming pool.
I sometimes get conflicted about recruiting Moleskin converts. What happens if there are more people that want them than available Moleskins?
Insist on joy in spite of everything!
Classic post, thanks!!!
“Ahhh consumerism at it’s best…”
@ Patrick: So there’s nothing at all in your home that paid a little more for because of perceived added value of a brand name? Never paid a little more for a shirt because it was a good brand, even though you can get plenty of shirts at Walmart for a few bucks? You never bought a nicer car just because you liked it better, even though a used VW gets you from A to B just the same? Ever been to Starbucks?
Geez. All this hating on a damn notebook, while I’m sure EVERYONE reading this is guilty of indulging in a little unnecessary spending from time to time. Let people have their notebooks if that’s what makes them happy. They’re not bashing you for whatever purchases you have made that others might think foolish.
I couldn’t Find a Moleskine, so I brought a similar
I will get one original when I succeed in Freelancing 
Cheers!
Great article!
I always wanted to have a moleskin notebook for my “random design notes and code” but I can’t seem to justify it since I tend to record my ideas on my iPhone or my mac pro workstation which I happen to always have access to (both at home and at my day job office). And when I do draw something up, I end up using scratch paper or coffee shop napkins instead. I tried bringing a notebook around but never really used it for some odd reason. I ended up using the notebook as a “folder” for the napkins I scribble on.
MICHELLE
Mindmapping is great in a Large Plain Reporter turned on it’s side (landscape-style); or a Large Squared Reporter, which tends to allow you to ’snap’ your mindmap bubbles to a regular spacing.
Mindmaps (for me at least) have a tendency to spread o u t w a r d s more than upwards. If you are more of an upANDout kinda mapper then go for Large Plain/Squared in the traditional format.
Have fun
RealityGrenade
I’ll second the Pilot G-2 pen…. I use the 07 model. Great choice…
Cool ideas and I like the idea of using my Moleskine as a wallet, pity the link doesn’t work.
Great compilation of tips! Having a table of contents at the top (or side bar) would help a lot since your list is so long, but it’s wonderful having all of the information collated to one page.
I *do* have to little nits I’d like to pick:
- Your recommended notebooks are all LARGE format. What’s up with that? A lot of people are completely enamored with the small format because they are small enough to carry in one’s purse or pocket. That even the small notebooks hold up well is a hallmark of Moleskine, and except for my calendar book (in large size), all the rest of my Moleskines are small. Pssst: There’s a reason all of the city notebooks are small — portability!
- You mention the Pilot G2, then pooh pooh it by telling people you prefer the Artline pen without explaining why you don’t like gel pens. The thing is, the Pilot G2 medium point (.7 mm) is too broad and I’m not a big fan of it, either; but the .5mm fine point? It seems like it was MADE to write on a Moleskine. And for folks with a really light touch, the Pilot G2 .38mm is even finer. Neither the .5 nor the .38 feel like your typical too-smooth gel pen ink, and I’d recommend both wholeheartedly.
Thanks again for your post!
I mean come on its a NOTEPAD! PAPER! Who cares how it comes. I am absolutely positive that people have better things to spend there hard earned dough on than the worlds most overpriced notepad!
I bought a ten pack of grided note pads for $4.99 – the quality is arguably better and you could back it in suede, leather or even gold leaf and still come in cheaper!
Who sells these things in bricks & mortars? I’d like to actually see/feel one to get an idea of what I’m plunking down $15 for. And those etched ones with the designs on them are droolworthy.
Thanks for the interesting tips. I have been an addicted user of Moleskins since years now both at work and at home.
I like the GTD stuff… I’ll be using some of the hacks.
And I need to get one of these need covers!
Just got my first Moleskine in the mail. Upon unwrapping it, there was this very cool and delicious smell from the binder/paper… It was almost as good as opening up you Mac packaging the first time… I know – sounds corny – but it brightened my day
hey reuber – I have no idea if they’re available in stores, but the large lined format… is very very nice
– worth the $15…
oh – and quick! I got mine in 2 days even with the basic shipping.
my 2 cents
Laughing. This is such a good post! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like I am part of some secret group.
“Moleskine notebooks rank alongside the MacBook Pro, money and caffiene”
Guilty, guilty, guilty.
As a writer, I love the small grid paper notebook.
I just bought the NEW SOFT COVER, grid paper, small notebook, made to fit in your jeans pocket. 10 pages writing into it, the binding has already fallen apart! Won’t get that one again. Stick to the hard covers!
“If you’re like me and dislike gel pens”
Yes, I hate them. Reckless as I am, I stick with ballpoint pens always, so that if it gets wet, the words stay! Watery pens wash away. A writer can’t risk this. Pencil wipes off too easily.
I too use sticky tabs.
This was a joy! Great links.
We use the Action Book designed by Behance.net. Its a great method and a simplified way of keeping even the most daunting of schedules in tact.
In the interest of time management, this post (and many others on FS) should be condensed. It seems like you tried to fit in anything Moleskine-related you could find by the end. Everybody works differently and thus more than one solution should be presented, but it doesn’t seem like you did your research to bring us the best.
They’re great notebooks. Try one if you can afford it. Now get back to creating!
Size definitely matters when it comes to notebooks… too small and there’s not enough space to note down everything you need to record. Too big and the book becomes a hassle to cart around and open out on all those small cafe tables. I’ve found a book I like to use that’s about A5 size with a spiral spine, a great compromise as far as I am concerned. One thing is for sure when it comes to notebooks … one size does not fit all
PDAs may save some trees but theyre inevitably headed for obsolescence and the landfill with all that precious nature-saving plastic and LCD and battery goodness inside. While the indiscriminate use and disposal of notebooks may be tied to tree cutting (tho most paper pulp is from farmed trees and the bigger environmental threat they pose is from the bleaching agents) Moleskines are usually kept and treasured.
I’ve used a version of these for years and love them. I get mine at either Barnes and Noble or Borders – soft cover, three pack for $15.
I like using them because they always work and all look the same and over time they’ve become ‘comfortable’. I keep them as almost like a journal. I don’t just put work stuff in them. The other day I found a poem and some sketches my daughter had done when she was 5 years old. Those are priceless.
What a fantastic post about something I love – notebooks/ sketchbooks/ paper. I never understand people who put down paper. As a long-time user of both technology and paper, paper always beats tech when it comes to creativity and often even productivity. Writing by hand stimulates ideas and creativity, and even eases stress.
Some people have already covered my thoughts. There is one new and some seconds.
1) love the pilot g2 pen. I like 0.5, but they are a little more difficult to buy in bulk at stores, so I often get the 0.7. gell ink can be a pain, but the pilot g2 0.5 is nice!
2) I’m also a huge fan of the small notebooks. I’m surprised you recommend all large sizes. The book is in my laptop briefcase almost all the time, but many times, I just want to throw it in my pocket and go.
3) I’ve tried, pda’s, I’ve tried inexpensive notebooks, there is a reason I keep going back to moleskine, and it just works for me. I think part of it is that you pay money for it, so you feel like you need to use it. where the cheapies, well, they just don’t live up to it in my hands. psychological, I’m sure, but it works for me. Secondly, I haven’t found an internet/pda devide that is usable enough. I’m going to try the iphone and see how that works. — Finally regarding this issue. I think for ideas and journaling, there is something to be said for just writing. — As for being a fad, I’ve been using moleskine for at least 6 years maybe longer (I have to look at my first entry in in my first moleskine). I wouldn’t call it a fad, but maybe you would.
some wishes from moleskine, I wish they’d number the pages, and I really do like the dotgrid from behance, but haven’t bought one yet. We’ll see.
great post, thanks.
I agree that moleskines are a fad (I bind my own notebooks, thanks). But people who complain about using paper for environmental reasons?! How much natural resources do you think are required to make a PDA? I would doubt that PDA lives long enough with ordinary PDA users for it ever to break even with paper&ink use. Guess which recycles better as well. Don’t even get me started on what it takes to make a laptop.
People who buy this expensive notebooks are not going to throw them away daily, or even monthly.
And the price? Getting expensive notebook like this does not make you financially unstable. It is about price of one dinner. Not a disaster when there are dozen other things that you could easily be doubly more economical with.
This is brilliant. What more can one say.
Inspirational and I used several ideas to hack my Moleskine, in fact I did one as a GTD/wallet combo and another has compartments for some gadget, dang what a geek!
This article is a great find. The best I’ve come across yet for a comprehensive Moleskin Hack source. Very nicely done. I’ll be busy for a while here. Thanks.
I think Mave has it wrong on the Mac.
I work for a web hosting company as a systems administrator. My co-workers and I are all geeks. I’m the only one who has no iphone, no pda, no ipod, no spiffy portable electronic device that is somewhat near the cutting edge. My cellphone is an old nokia from back in The Day (that was a Wednesday, by the way), and danged if I don’t have a USB pen drive to store my MP3s on (how do I listen to them? I have a computer for that).
I’m never without my moleskine, though… and while everyone else is penning things into their PDA, or typing it into their iphone, I’ve grabbed, opened, jotted, closed, and slid back in pocket, before they’ve even opened the right app.
Moleskine? Thou art geekery.
There’s even a Moleskine inspired Wordpress theme for anyone who wants a Moleskine-esque blog
http://www.upstartblogger.com/upstart-blogger-moleskine-wordpress-theme
Overall pretty good,however with all the Apple Pimping going on I cant help but know the Author is no doubt wearing their trendy little horn rimmed eyeglasses and sipping on their Starbucks,smugly palming their keys to their tiresomely predictable SUV while chatting on their iphone.Oh, please excuse.. I threw up in my mouth a little..
That’s *caffeine* dammit!!
Barry, you seem to have a little Mac stereotype issue going on. I’m about as far away from the picture you paint as it gets. It is possible to enjoy a product line and not buy into a whole set of related behaviors. And as it appears you’re working at being clever, you might move along from the whole “I threw up in my mouth a bit”. That one’s pretty tired. But then again I guess that’s just my view as an apple zombie and therefore wouldn’t be of much use to you.
I never go ANYWHERE without my Moleskine. Thanks for the intriguing and whimsical blog.
I have Moleskines stashed in the two bags I use and in all the coats I commonly wear. I have a couple Fisher space pens too. Those things are so small they are easily lost. The Moleskine’s aren’t the primary way I capture ideas on the hoof. I use my iphone and an levenger pocket briefcase that is a little pocket organizer, writing surface and pen for 3 X 5 cards for that. But I love having the back up, knowing that it’s very unlikely I’ll end up somewhere were I don’t have somewhere I can jot stuff down. Incidentally I just had an article published over at GTDtimes on how writing things down can expand your cognitive capacities in two different ways. I think freelancers and Moleskiner’s might appreciate the ideas there:
http://www.gtdtimes.com/2008/07/31/ancient-cheating-and-a-modern-twist/
I don’t own a Moleskine notebook (yet), but I won’t go anywhere without a Pilot G2 pen
I’m sorry, but I have to agree with those that are just not “getting” the deal with a Moleskin. Does it sync up to your laptop? Does it play music for you? Does it rub your feet at the end of a long day?
It’s just paper bound between two covers.
@Skellie – comparing a notebook to a bottle of wine? Come on! For quick sketches and notes, paper is paper! Now, if you were creating a piece that could be/will be DIRECTLY transferred into the final work, I definitely agree you need to step it up a notch. But, by just carrying a name brand notebook to make clients think you successful…really? To each his own, but I find it much greener/faster/easier to keep a stack of perfectly good “waste paper” (paper only printed or written on one side and is usually slated for the garbage) around for my quick notes and initial sketches.
Moleskins are overpriced and the paper quality is so-so. I’d rather just get a Rhodia or Clairfontaine notebook; 1/3 the cost and much higher grade paper. I don’t really care if people know what notebooks I use, and I doubt that I’d be interested in meeting anyone who cared what notebooks I use.
I have no order whatsoever for my Moleskin. I write in them and try to keep them clean but I don’t mod. For me, the act of writing it down is enough. I often tear out pages that are ugly, but for the most part, I write everything down on whatever space is available, often using the same page for days, and just as often burning through five pages a day. When I’m done, I wrap a rubber band around it and stash it in my desk. The rubber band keeps me from picking up the burnt moleskin. I also use only the front sides of my vertical reporter’s notebook style moleskin until they’re all burnt, then I flip it and work through the other way. My Mont Blanc works perfectly well on the moleskin paper.
I have a moleskine notebook and absolutely love it. The paper is so smooth and works well with all pens. My personal favorite pen, though, is the Pentel EnerGel. It’s such a clean line and doesn’t smear too much, even being a gel pen. But I do love the Pilot G2 pens a lot. I’m actually one of those people that’s picky about my pens but if I have a pen I use it, if that makes sense.
I just write whatever in my moleskine. Mostly, it’s like stories and poems and such, but I also use it to write down ideas I get for a new plot line, or something I hear someone say that I think would make a good line in a story. I actually printed out the writing tips that you linked to in this post and slid it in the pocket at the back of my Moleskine (one of my favorite things about this notebook is the pocket for index cards, random slips of paper, and even napkins that I write on if I’ve miraculously forgotten my Moleskine–even though I take it with me everywhere, it can sometimes be forgotten if I don’t want to carry my purse).
This post is so amazing, because there are lots of cool ideas and hacks. I really love the one for the iPod and two Moleskine notebooks, even though I have an mp3 player, not an iPod. It would still work and I’m thinking about getting/making one. I don’t know.
Moleskines rock!
GREAT ARTICLE but to the reviewers …. if your going to post reviews on here learn to spell!!! it is spelled MOLESKINE with an “e” on the end!!! it is not spelled moleskin!! NO THAT IS WRONG THERE IS AN “E” AT THE END!!! DON’T GO SAYING ” OH YEA I’M SUUUUUCH A BIG MOLESKIN (note the “e” is missing) FAN” when it’s spelled without the “e”!!!! You can’t possibly be a HUGE FAN when you can’t even spell it!!!!!!!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
http://bibliomancer.com/?p=19
In case you managed to miss something like this. It’s a great little hack for people who carry a planner and then a cahier of the same size. I usually have a pocket-size jotter notebook for recent projects and ideas, and just tuck that into my larger journal, but this is great if your smaller notebook for daily stuff won’t fit inside the front or back cover of your moleskine or notebook
i don’t use moleskines – nothing but unruled composition books for me- but these are good tips nonetheless!
and G2 pens are the greatest. i love them.
I have two useful bits of knowledge
the first bit: to prevent the tip of you marker from getting frayed beyond recognition
use some clear nail polish and it will hold it together and hold your place for all your
place holding needs.
the second bit: this is mostly for the artists. I have found in previous sketch books
that using prismacolors just doesn’t feel the same as it does on a hard solid surface.
so what i did was cut a piece of mat board to fit in the pocket in the back of the book.
so a hard surface is at your finger tips and the full potential of the prismacolors can be
obtained.
this is the only knowledge I have obtained through out my stay on this earth. I hope it
helps at least one person.
Some tweeker wrote: “in times like these, with the environmental issues the planet is facing, the indiscriminate use of paper should be going out of fashion”
Utter and complete nonsense. Paper is, and has always been, a renewable, biodegradable resource. Nobody is cutting down old-growth redwood trees or rainforests to make paper – we have forests we plant, raise, log, and replant, every year. We will never run out of trees, the same way we will never run out of potatoes. We can and will always grow more.
I’m as much of an enviro-weenie at heart as anyone else – I want more trees and less asphalt, I want much smarter development and limited growth, and I want zoning laws that protect natural resources. But worrying about paper? You’re better off petitioning the telephone company to stop printing phone books, and newspapers to ONLY publish online — you know, so that instead of spending 50 cents to read a day’s worth of news, you can simply break out your $1500 laptop and read it “free,” right?
ObligatorySkineContent: I just bought my first Moleskine (a monthly planner) and am quite impressed with the sheer simplicity of the thing. I’m not quite fetishy when it comes to a little paper notebook, but give me a year or so and we’ll see what kind of treasure it becomes while I’m on the road…
Thought the community here might be interested in a free downloadable how-to pdf of a pen holder hack:
http://gnatgnat.com/2009/01/04/molekine-pen-holder/
Enjoy
DK
The Moleskine products are now just more “made in China” junk.
I honestly have no idea how I ended up reading this article. It was one of those tabs that I left open in Google Chrome when I shut it down so that it would still be there when I opened the browser back up so many times that I finally just read it so I could close the tab. Unfortunately, I now have another 11 tabs open as I control-clicked through the article on the links that sounded interesting. Now, that is the mark of an outstanding and useful article. I know this post is old, and I don’t care, I wanted to say kudos.
A suggestion for hacking your own notebooks during these somewhat economically trying times:
Ryan’s suggestion of the Behance line of Action & Dot Grid books is good, especially when you don’t want to compromise by accepting either graph paper OR plain paper. But for those of you who want to roll-your-own (to save money or to customize), consider binding your own pamphlet-style softcover notebooks made from sheets you print yourself. This will take some time, but will pay for itself in versatility & individuality of the finished product.
1.) Visit this website for DIY graph paper in pdf form: http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/. Not only do you get to print your own graph paper for free, you get a choice of at least SIXTEEN variants, including regular grid, dot grid, cross grid, hex grid, octagonal grid, triangular grid (in both line & dot!), etc. After you choose the grid style, you get to customize the document size, line weight, border, & grid-block size. Print one or more styles on a laser printer in single-side or duplex form, & then run as many copies as you like on the Kinko’s or office photocopier. Presto — no more boring mono-graph-paper notebooks!
2.) If you want to customize your pages even further, consider collaging together several styles of grid & line fields onto one sheet, & photocopying your customized pages as desired. (Bear in mind that if you create a folio notebook from letter-size paper, your page size will be one-half of a letter-size sheet.)
3.) If you use 8-1/2″ by 11″ sheets, you can fold a small stack of them in half (narrow sides together) to get a 5-1/2″ by 8-1/2″ folio. Folding ten sheets like this gives you forty pages. For a cover, you can take a piece of letter-size cardstock (available at stationery stores in packages or as single sheets) & fold it in the same manner as the other sheets.
4.) Insert the paper folio sheet stack inside the folded cardstock. Position the folds of all the sheets in line with each other. Make three equidistant marks along the fold of the innermost (topmost) sheet of the stack. Holding the sheets tightly together with folds aligned, use a push pin to punch a hole at each mark, clear through from the innermost sheet & out through the cardstock cover.
5.) Here are the steps for sewing the cover & sheets together with a simple pamphlet stitch. (NOTE: the following instructions seem very long-winded … & they are. But they’re NOT complicated, & become much easier to understand if you see a diagram. Go to: http://www.booklyn.org/education/ispamphlet.pdf for a good simple diagram & instructions.)
With a large yarn needle threaded with your choice of thick thread or yarn, begin sewing through the middle hole from the outside (cover side), leaving a thread tail of about 1″ long outside. Sew a letter “B” (through the middle hole to the inside, up to the top hole & through it to the outside, down to the bottom hole & through it to the inside, & lastly through the middle hole to the outside) This should put the end of the thread back through the middle hole & outside the cover again. Tighten up any slack in the thread between the holes. Remove the needle, trim the needle end of the thread to 1″ long, loop the thread ends around the long thread outside the pamphlet, & tie them together with a simple knot. You now have your own handmade notebook.
6.) To give your notebook some Moleskine functionality, glue a small, good-quality envelope inside the back cover, to hold loose papers, tickets, etc. You can decorate the covers with collage, pen & ink, or other media.
@cal: a bit late with this answer…
you can find a book of about 1000 years ago and read it with few problems.
but I hardly can read my floppy disks on my new iMac… and I’m talking about those large and soft 5 1/4 disks. a lot of data stored there just went puf… unusable.
paper: persist
technology: is alredy old and gone
just keep ‘em booth away from fire and water.
…I love moleskines *_*
Thanks Skellie. I love the hacks and tricks…and your site!! Came here via Twitter and will definitely be back. All the best everyone with your Moleskine creativity [see my site for AU Moleskines...or not].
Cheers
Great post!
I use a Pilot 4+1 Light pen which has black, blue, green, red AND a pencil built in ( http://bit.ly/KqK17). I use the different colors for different notes: red – top priority, blue – to do, black – reference to follow up, green – home, pencil – sketches. Lets me get a good idea of where I am with a glance. In the past I have also used the different colors to end an entry on the same page, so each entry/paragraph is a different color.
I travel, I write. My Moleskines have been on every continent in the world, except Antarctica that is.
I’m sorry, but anyone who says ‘paper is paper’ needs to write more. I tried everything from the cheapest up and crap paper dies in the arse really fast and years later when you want to refer back the cheap notepads are sometimes unreadable.
I use a laptop and my mobile phone has an 8mb camera and PDA. But I STILL love the tactile nature of writing on good paper with a good pen. It is more right hemisphere than just writing or fingering in messages on a phone’s virtual keyboard. It’s the same reason people prefer real books to PDF eBooks.
I found the normal moleskine to thick to carry in my back pocket(I carried and wore out 3 of them). I decided I needed something smaller for my pocket. The Moleskine Cahier was thinner, but too thin for back pocket carry. I contacted http://www.renaissance-art.com (who make some great covers for the Moleskine line of notebooks) and had a custom leather cover made to fit my Moleskine Cahier. Perfect fit for my back pocket, and I get 3 Cahier notebooks for the price of one Moleskine notebook. When I fill one up, or put out all the pages I transfer the important notes/phone numbers to the new one and slide it into my http://www.renaissance-art.com leather cover. Looks excellent, and fits in my pocket just right.
I prefer Clairefontaine notebooks (imported from France, most art supply stores carry them.) Cheaper and bigger and just as useful. Lots of lovely colors too. Love the look of the Moleskins though.
In the mood for retro? I found out about Molecovers earlier this month and had to get one of their white Moleskine covers. I absolutely love it and can stop looking at it. Best part, protects my Moleskine and still fits in my back pocket. Check it out at: http://www.molecover.com
Fantastic and inspiring collection of tips. Thanks for that blog article!
Count me in as a Moleskinephile. I have a quantity of them here in my home office. I enjoy the feel of the paper. I enjoy the sound of my fountain pen as it transfers my thoughts into words in my Moleskine notebooks. The Moleskine is smaller and more flexible than my netbook computer or my PDA. No batteries are required. There are no battery failures at the most inopportune times.
I stopped counting how many magazine articles I’ve had published when the total reached 100. My colleagues on campus couldn’t believe I still do a rough draft of each article with pen on paper.
Although the final form of each article I send my editor is a word document accompanied by a number of images as JPEGs and burned to a CD, the creative process begins with my jotting down notes and a list of what illustrations I need.
Fun read. Lots of ideas. Loved the comment thread, too.
I’ve never owned a Moleskine, and I probably will never convince myself that they’re worth $15.
The tips and hacks listed here are great for other notebooks too, and for that I say “thanks!”
I’ve been using Moleskine planners for the past 3 years as well as the lined and squared notebooks for jotting ideas, making lists, writing down all the random thoughts I have and doodling when I was bored at work or waiting at appointments. Honestly, at first I was like “eh, just another expensive book” But then I bought a planner and a few notebooks and realized they look nice when they’re used and put on a shelf on a desk or even stacked on a bedside table. To me they look better than generic spiral bound notebooks (which I’m not bashing. I have a billion of these.)
To me there’s just something about the feel of the book and the paper and the way it looks when it’s in-progress of being filled with info. and when it’s finished. I dunno, just seems like I’ve accomplished so much more and was more productive seeing the way it looked when done. Looked more used and worn in which I love. Normal spiral bound and binder types didn’t have the same look to me. They lose pages easier in my opinion.
It all varies person to person. Everyone has an opinion. Some love Moleskines, some don’t. Doesn’t mean those who will spend the $15+ on a notebook means they are insane and spend money like nuts. Just means they have a preference of what they’re looking for.
Personally I use maybe 2 moleskine notebooks a year and a planner. Costwise at an estimate I say I spend no more than $50 a year on books I know will hold up because they have in the past (and I am brutal on my books. Carry them everywhere in pocket or purse, toss in the car and on the couch/desk. I’ve even spilled coffee on one more than once (klutz at my old job lol) and I still got it wiped up and dried the pages carefully and it just had a more broken in feel and look.
I still go out at back to school time and get my cheapo 1 subject notebooks for like 10 cents a piece and I use those for general notes, brainstorming for final notes to copy into moleskine later so I don’t have a mess in the good books and journaling.
I’ve tried the whole PDA thing before and it just didn’t work. Thankfully I only bought a $100 model figuring I’d try it out for a year and if I liked it enough I’d buy an upgrade. I didn’t even make it 3 months. I’d forget to charge it. Forget to sync it. Type something in and not have it save, etc. I just feel better about paper. I have planners and journals from back in the mid to late 90’s still. If I haven’t lost those then I’m all set with paper products lol.
I do own a mac tho. 2 to be specific
I found this link though another site I had stumbled upon and figured I’d just share my own experiences with the books and my opinion.
I’m not a freelancer or working at the moment. But I use the planner to keep track of all my appointments, notes about my pregnancy and the hellish time I’m having with insurance, and bills that are due/when/amounts and so on. I try to color-code most of it so at a glance it’d be easy to pick out certain things. The notes page opposite the week helps cause I keep notes on my appointments and everything. My boyfriend makes fun of me constantly because I write *everything* down but it’s how I feel I need to do it. I plan on being self employed after I have the babies in 2010, doing housecleaning or something animal related so it will come in handy to use the way I use my planner.
And I’m done rambling for now lol. Sorry if it’s long or bothersome.
Love these tips and will link to you in my blog by way of thanks.
My main use for the moleskine in the post to me now will be to design my own monthly and weekly planner, to suit my exact needs, such as logging my ‘5 a day’ fruit and veg, exercise, tasks and more, maybe even a dream log.
I like the idea of it being good quality and founf a price on ebay.co.uk that was cheaper than Amazon or other retailers.
For me it will be the pocket squared and I will have some contents sections, and number the pages in even numbers as recommended.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Love this article! Right now i don’t have the funds for a moleskin so i use a mini notebook. But as soon as possible i’m gonna start getting these.
I never knew there were so many ways you could use one and so many different options.
If you buy Moleskines from dittoscribe.com, they give a note book to a kid in a third world country.
Molies are great, perfect really for altering into the perfect notebook that works for you. The minimal style lends itself to just about anything so anything is possible.
Being budget minded, I use Pentalic Traveler’s Sketch Books. They have many of the same qualities of moleskine books, minus the exorbitant pricing for name brand-ness. I primarily use them for journaling. I really like how they accept both dry media and simple wets like writing pens.
i really want a moleskin… although i do admit, it’s a bit expensive for a notebook… i’m intrigued!!! ♥
I enjoyed this read and an inspiring collection of tips. Thanks for your post
I’d personally use an acid free pen so the notebook will last and last, that is if it’s being used as a journal.